Chapter 26
The incident involving XX’s disparaging comments spread like wildfire, sparking a wave of outrage.
Netizens, feeling like detectives, quickly uncovered a series of actions and statements by XX over the years that revealed a consistent pattern of disdain for China.
Everyone was shocked to discover that XX had always looked down on China.
There had even been a scandal a few years ago where XX store employees only served foreign customers, ignoring Chinese patrons altogether. XX had swept it under the rug with some PR maneuvering.
Numerous other incidents surfaced, showing blatant double standards between foreign and domestic customers.
While these weren’t major scandals, many people had grown accustomed to XX’s arrogance, accepting it as the standard for a top foreign luxury brand.
But now, seeing it all laid out, people began to see things clearly.
Some netizens even dug up XX’s recent financial reports, revealing that their sales in the Chinese market had been steadily climbing, accounting for nearly half of their total sales.
So the Chinese customers they despised so much were actually their biggest source of revenue?
It turned out they had been treating their golden goose with utter disdain.
Ultimately, XX’s arrogance and disdain for China boiled down to an ingrained habit of bullying Chinese customers.
But times had changed, and the Chinese people were no longer willing to put up with it.
A wave of calls to “boycott XX” quickly took over social media.
[Not that rich, just spent about a million on XX every year. Consider that money flushed down the drain—I won’t be spending another cent on them from now on.]
[Went to browse at XX once—not because I couldn’t afford it, I just didn’t like their stuff. But the store assistant said something snide about ‘poor people shouldn’t shop here.’ Don’t worry, I won’t be going back! Any self-respecting Chinese person shouldn’t either!]
[Don’t just focus on XX; they have a bunch of sub-brands too! I’ve compiled a list: XXX, XX… Let’s make sure to boycott every last one!]
[Thanks for the info! Sharing now!]
[Shared +1!]
*
Celebrities were quick to react, publicly cutting ties with XX.
Within a single day, XX’s market value plummeted by over 20%, and their stock price hit rock bottom.
Once adamant about refusing to apologize, XX’s executives promptly bowed under pressure, with the lead designer resigning and issuing a public apology.
But it was too late.
In China, XX’s reputation was now completely tarnished, and within a few months, they could no longer sustain operations and quietly withdrew from the market.
This incident left other foreign brands wary, prompting them to improve customer service and even post on Weibo, reassuring Chinese consumers that they didn’t practice double standards.
Of course, that was all in the future.
Following XX’s downfall, Zuo Hang, who had been pushing their promotion aggressively, faced a series of unfortunate events. His actions had even impacted his parent company, Xingmao Media, leaving him scrambling to control the damage. He no longer had the time or energy to stir up trouble in Meng and Cheng’s fan circles.
And his downfall served as a cautionary tale, leaving other companies hesitant to follow in his footsteps.
This kind of tactic had been used countless times, but this was the first time anyone had seen it backfire so spectacularly.
Since Meng and Cheng had joined the show, every person who had tried to hinder them had ended up in trouble. First, it was Jiang Mo, then the people from LightWing Entertainment, and now Zuo Hang.
These two artists were practically cursed!
The more people thought about it, the more uneasy they felt, fearing they might suffer the same fate.
Without external troublemakers, the fan groups enjoyed a period of calm, and the competition’s performance schedule returned to normal. Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin felt more at ease.
However, their schedules were still packed, as they needed to take a day off to travel to Beijing and film the Tianxuan Youth Line commercial.
This would be their first time leaving Dunhai City in over a month.
As they followed Gu Xingshi out of the dorm, both of them felt a bit dazed.
The three walked out together and were soon spotted by waiting fans, who erupted in cheers.
Such scenes had become a daily occurrence over the past month, yet Meng and Cheng still felt moved and grateful.
After all, before entering the show, they had been ordinary nobodies. Who could have imagined that so much would change in just over a month? It felt like a lifetime ago.
Gu Xingshi felt the same way, so he didn’t rush them. He allowed them to greet their fans properly, even taking photos from fans and passing them to Meng and Cheng to sign before handing them back.
But he didn’t expect a young fan to blush and, after taking her signed photo, asked, “Brother Manager, can I shake your hand?”
Gu Xingshi froze for a moment.
The fan’s eyes sparkled with sincerity. “Don’t listen to those people with bad intentions. All of us fans really appreciate how much you’ve done to look after our idols. Thank you so much.”
Other fans recognized Gu Xingshi as well and crowded around to encourage him.
“President Gu, don’t pay attention to the rumors! We all think you’re amazing!”
“Stay strong, President Gu! We’ll always support you!”
“President Gu, I’m a huge fan of your looks! I’ll give you all my love!”
*
Listening to the fans’ heartfelt words, Gu Xingshi felt both amused and deeply moved.
Facing such genuine and fervent support, he couldn’t help but be touched.
In the end, he simply gave them a gentle wave. “Don’t worry. Now, get home safe.”
*
When they arrived in Beijing, there was no time to rest as they headed straight to the filming location.
Tianxuan Youth Line had chosen six young celebrities as ambassadors, including three popular young actresses, one rising male actor, and, of course, Meng and Cheng.
The two would be shooting alongside the rising actor, Yan Luoyuan.
Two years ago, Yan had played a supporting role in a hit high school drama, gaining significant popularity.
As their car approached the set, they saw that it was surrounded by Yan Luoyuan’s fans.
They were surprised to learn that Yan hadn’t arrived yet.
In fact, the reason their shoot had been delayed until now was to accommodate Yan’s schedule.
His team had even requested that he shoot first, though they wouldn’t be available to start until two in the afternoon.
After some negotiations, they reluctantly agreed to an eleven o’clock start time.
But now it was already eleven-thirty, and there was still no sign of him—or even a courtesy call explaining the delay.
The crew had been calling non-stop until they finally reached Yan’s manager, Zhu Xin.
Apologetically, Zhu explained that Yan hadn’t been feeling well and had overslept, but would be on his way soon.
Of course, “soon” came with no further updates.
Glancing at his watch, Gu Xingshi frowned slightly.
Any further delays would leave them short on time, risking their flight back and the rest of the [Boy Group Training Camp] schedule.
After calming the anxious Meng and Cheng, Gu Xingshi approached the production crew and asked if they could start without Yan.
The crew members were growing impatient as well. With Yan’s team refusing to pick up the phone, the director finally decided, “Alright! Let’s start shooting with you guys first.”
Meng and Cheng were already in full hair and makeup, only needing a few touch-ups.
After a round of adjustments, they were finally ready to roll.
By this time, it was already two in the afternoon.
And just then, Yan Luoyuan arrived fashionably late.
With most of his face hidden behind oversized sunglasses, Yan Luoyuan sauntered in, looking tired and disinterested, yawning constantly with one hand stuffed in his pocket.
His manager, however, made a show of apologizing profusely as soon as they arrived. He even had an assistant distribute coffee to everyone, explaining that Yan Luoyuan was feeling unwell and asking for everyone’s understanding.
Initially, the crew had been angry about the delay, but seeing Yan’s pale complexion and hearing the apology, their complaints faded.
At that moment, Gu Xingshi heard the system’s voice in his mind: [After a night serving two wealthy patrons, of course he’d be feeling unwell~.]
Gu Xingshi perked up. [Care to elaborate?]
System: [Yan Luoyuan’s manager is more of a pimp than a real agent, frequently introducing his artists to wealthy clients. Yan is one of the most ‘compliant’ of his clients and has therefore secured the best resources.]
[Last night, he was originally scheduled with just one female patron, but ended up at another party afterward, where he stayed until early morning. With only two or three hours of sleep, he’s naturally exhausted. What’s more ridiculous is that before he left, his manager even posted on Yan’s social media, saying he was feeling unwell but still bravely going to work, earning a wave of sympathy from fans.]
Gu Xingshi’s brows knit together tightly.
System: [Oh, and Yan isn’t exactly innocent either. He’s known for his unrestrained nightlife and has even attended several scandalous gatherings. His manager not only turns a blind eye but actively covers for him. His fans still think he’s a pure, untainted idol who’s never even dated.]
Gu Xingshi’s frown deepened, and after a long silence, he muttered, “Well, at least they’re a perfect match for each other.”
With such a chaotic lifestyle, wasn’t he worried about running out of energy?
Gu Xingshi rubbed his temples, realizing he had underestimated the complications of this job. He had assumed he only needed to keep an eye on the brand partners for any controversies; he hadn’t expected to encounter colleagues who were walking scandals themselves.
But he decided to bear with it this time, hoping there wouldn’t be a repeat incident.
To his surprise, before anyone could criticize Yan’s team, Yan’s manager was the first to stir up trouble.
He went straight to the director. “Director Ni, didn’t we agree that Luoyuan would shoot first?”
The director replied sharply, “That was the plan, but look at the time. You’re three hours late, and he hasn’t even had his makeup done. We can’t keep everyone waiting for him alone.”
Zhu Xin pressed on, “We didn’t mean to cause any trouble, Director. But you can see that Luoyuan isn’t feeling well. If we wait any longer, I’m afraid he won’t make it through the shoot. That would be a real setback…”
The director frowned.
Seeing this hesitation, Zhu Xin smiled triumphantly.
Once the director was wavering, all he needed to do was convince the two rookie trainees and their manager, and they’d have their way.
In his view, these nobodies from a small company would surely be intimidated. Surely it wouldn’t be a big deal to have them wait a little longer!
But before he could say anything more, Gu Xingshi cut him off with a firm refusal.
Zhu Xin was stunned. “Manager Gu, did you not hear what I said?”
Gu Xingshi replied coolly, “Oh, I heard you perfectly. I’m still saying no.”
Not expecting such blunt opposition, Zhu’s face darkened. “Manager Gu, you may be new to this industry and unfamiliar with certain rules. Luoyuan is a senior, while your artists are still trainees. According to status and seniority, it’s only right for them to show respect. If they refuse, it could harm their reputation—people will think they don’t respect their seniors, and that can make it difficult for them in this industry.”
Gu Xingshi nearly laughed at the absurdity.
He had never encountered such shamelessness.
“First of all, we’ve already been more than accommodating. From the scheduling to the shooting order, everything was adjusted to suit your side. But you’ve been three hours late. Based on the original schedule, it’s our turn now.”
He continued sharply, “And as for my artists’ future in this industry, you don’t need to worry about it. Perhaps you should focus on managing your own.”
Zhu Xin was speechless.
He hadn’t expected Gu Xingshi to be so assertive.
Who did he think he was?!
Zhu’s tone turned cold. “Young man, you might want to leave yourself an exit. Don’t let pride get in the way, or you could end up crossing people you can’t afford to offend.”
“Is that a threat?” Gu Xingshi’s smile was icy. “Then let me return the advice to you—don’t think you can bully others with your so-called ‘experience.’ One day you might offend someone you can’t afford to cross, and it won’t just be your future at stake; it’ll be your patrons’ as well.”
Zhu Han’s expression turned from anger to suspicion. “You…”
But Gu Xingshi had already turned away, addressing the director as if nothing had happened. “Director Ni, are we ready to start?”
Snapping out of his own attempt at neutrality, the director quickly nodded, “Yes, yes, let’s start now!”
*
With his attempt to strong-arm Gu Xingshi failing spectacularly, Zhu Xin returned to the waiting room, fuming.
Yan Luoyuan, scrolling through his phone, looked up nonchalantly. “Got it all sorted?”
Zhu gritted his teeth. “No…”
Yan Luoyuan, still looking unbothered, said, “If we’d just followed my idea of starting at two in the afternoon… Wait, what? No?”
“Right,” Zhu muttered, unable to hold back. He relayed what Gu Xingshi had said.
Yan Luoyan was incredulous. “Is he insane? Does he even know who I am?”
Zhu remained silent, unable to shake the lingering impact of Gu Xingshi’s words.
Yan scoffed. “Your courage is shrinking. He’s just some greenhorn manager bluffing his way through. You’re seriously letting him get to you?”
“There’s more to it,” Zhu replied. “Think about it—without connections, how could two trainees get a major brand like Tianxuan?”
Yan Luoyan waved it off. “So what? My backers include Director Ning and his entire network of associates. I know everyone in their circle, and none of them have ever mentioned Gu Xingshi or his artists. Unless he’s got a direct line to the Wen family head himself.”
Everyone knew that Wen Yue, the head of the Wen family, maintained a clean image and avoided mingling with entertainment elites like them.
Zhu Han finally relaxed, his expression brightening. “You’re right. I almost let that brat mess with my head!”
He couldn’t believe he’d allowed a rookie to turn the tables on him so thoroughly.
Fueled by both anger and humiliation, Zhu said, “Let’s go out there now and expose him. Let’s see him leave with his two broke, clueless trainees.”
“Hold on.” Zhu stopped him. “We’re already late, and this is still a Tianxuan shoot. If we mess up here and Director Wen finds out, even Director Ning might not back you up.”
“Then what are we supposed to do? Just let him walk all over me?” Yan grumbled, clearly agitated.
Ever since his rise to fame two years ago, people had catered to his every whim. Sharing a shoot with two rookies was already an insult; being expected to shoot after them was even worse. If this got out, he’d be a laughingstock.
Zhu patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Calm down. Let me look into this first. If he really is bluffing, I’ll make sure he regrets it.”
*
After Gu Xingshi sent Zhu Xin away with a firm rebuttal, he fully expected them to retaliate. But to his surprise, Yan Luoyuan’s side remained completely quiet until Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin finished filming their ad.
Relieved, Gu Xingshi put the incident out of his mind.
As soon as the shoot wrapped up, he hustled them to the airport.
By the time their car pulled away from the set, the sun had already set. Gu Xingshi glanced outside and spotted a few of Yan Luoyuan’s fans still waiting by the entrance, clutching their light boards tightly despite looking exhausted, some even sitting on the ground.
He didn’t feel it was his place to judge their dedication, but he couldn’t help feeling a pang of sympathy. These fans’ boundless enthusiasm was wasted on someone like Yan, whose life was built on lies and questionable behavior.
Back in Dunhai City, they quickly dove back into a busy schedule.
With the new round of performances approaching, Meng and Cheng’s days were packed with rehearsals, meals, and sleep. Although the schedule was tight, everything was progressing smoothly for them.
But Gu Xingshi’s work wasn’t going so smoothly.
First, several potential partnerships that were nearly finalized suddenly backed out. Then, a few songwriting collaborations he had lined up started encountering issues as well. While he managed to salvage some of them, he could feel something was off.
When Yin Hefeng heard about it, he couldn’t help but ask, “Did you offend someone?”
“No,” Gu Xingshi said, baffled. He’d been playing it safe lately, just quietly observing the industry gossip without even leaving comments.
But as he thought about it, he suddenly recalled the incident at the ad shoot.
Could it be…
Just then, his phone rang. It was Liang Wenjun.
Her first words were, “Xiao Gu, what did you do to offend Director Ning?”
Gu Xingshi was bewildered. “Director Ning? I don’t even know who that is.”
Liang Wenjun was taken aback. “You don’t know him? Then why did I hear that he’s been saying you don’t know your place and that he’s planning to teach you a lesson?”
Gu Xingshi thought of something and quickly asked the system, [Is one of Yan Luoyuan’s patrons named Ning?]
System: [Yes, one of his sponsors does have the surname Ning.]
Mystery solved.
It was highly likely that Yan Luoyuan and his team were stirring up trouble behind the scenes.
Liang Wenjun went on to explain that this Director Ning was Ning Tianyou, the head of Xingmao Media. He was a powerful figure in the industry with a notorious temper. Offending him was no small matter—those who did usually paid a steep price.
If it had been someone else, Liang Wenjun would have offered to arrange a meeting to smooth things over. But Ning Tianyou’s personal life was notoriously messy, and he had a particular “appreciation” for attractive young men. Liang Wenjun didn’t want to risk Gu Xingshi catching his eye in the worst way.
She hinted as much, advising Gu Xingshi to keep a low profile and wait for the storm to pass. Ning might be influential, but he wasn’t all-powerful. At most, he’d give Gu some trouble for a while, but with her help, they’d eventually be able to negotiate a truce.
Gu Xingshi thanked her calmly, but as he hung up, his expression darkened.
The system, ever perceptive, provided more intel: [This Director Ning’s full name is Ning Tianyou. Xingmao Media was actually founded by his older brother, Ning Tianzuo, who was both talented and upright. He and his wife built the company from the ground up. When Ning Tianyou joined the company, Ning Tianzuo gave him a chance, but Tianyou quickly started using his position to make inappropriate advances toward younger artists. When Ning Tianzuo found out, he kicked him out.]
[Ning Tianyou later returned, groveling and swearing he’d reformed. Ning Tianzuo, soft-hearted, allowed him back, but only gave him a minor role and kept him under close watch. Tianyou resented his brother for this and eventually tampered with his brakes. Ning Tianzuo and his wife died in the resulting car accident, leaving behind their six-year-old son, Ning Wenzhuo.]
[After his brother and sister-in-law’s death, Ning Tianyou quickly took control of Xingmao Media, claiming he was managing it for his nephew’s sake. In reality, he drove out the company’s original staff, sending Wenzhuo abroad and even bribing people to corrupt him. Fortunately, Wenzhuo was sharp enough to evade these schemes.]
[Ning Wenzhuo has long suspected his parents’ deaths were no accident. Although he’s maintained a playboy persona abroad to avoid raising suspicions, he’s been quietly investigating the truth.]
As the system recounted the details, Gu Xingshi pieced together a plan in his mind.
Play it safe? Bow down to scum like this?
Neither option appealed to him.
However, Ning Tianyou was deeply entrenched in the industry, and taking him down would be no small task.
But Ning wasn’t the only one on his blacklist.
A new idea formed, he turned to the system. [So, System~ remember how I asked you to keep tabs on Yan Luoyuan? Has he done anything scandalous lately?]
The system perked up with excitement. [Host, I’ve been dying to tell you! Yan’s been restless lately—tonight, he’s even hosting a rather wild silver party. The location is…]
Gu Xingshi smirked. “Perfect.”
He pulled out a new phone and dialed a number. “Hello, 110? I’d like to report a situation.”
Tonight, he would be an anonymous tipster, doing his civic duty.
Gotta love Gu Xingshi
Go! gu singshi.